Rookie Arms Propel Engineers in Sweep over Newbury

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Freshmen Ryan Munoz and Cameron Brown each delivered the best performances of their young career as the MIT nine swept Newbury College in a pair of seven-inning battles on Sunday. Munoz authored a complete-game effort in an 8-1 victory in game one while Brown pitched six scoreless frames as the Engineers took game two, 9-0.

Munoz surrendered four hits and one walk in the first complete-game pitching effort of the season for MIT (7-7). The rookie struck out a season-high eight batters and was in complete control en route to the first win of his career. Back-to-back doubles by Kevin Wheeler and Thomas Phillips plated runners in the bottom of the first while freshman William Blackman knocked home a third run with a line-drive single to center.

The Nighthawks (0-11) got one of the runs back after stealing home on a failed pick off attempt in the second, although the Engineers added four runs in the bottom of the third to open up the lead. Wheeler, Phillips and Blackman each supplied the attack with run producing hits during the frame, including Phillips' second two-base hit in as many at bats.

Wheeler added an RBI single in the fifth to cap the scoring as the senior captain finished the first tilt 3-for-4 with two runs and three runs batted in. Phillips and Blackman finished 2-for-3 while rookie Brian Doyle collected a pair of hits out of the lead-off spot.

David Carroll went the distance in a losing effort for Newbury, giving up seven earned runs and striking out four in six innings pitched.

In game two, Brown picked up where Munoz left off as the young lefty kept the Nighthawks off the basepaths all game. Brown scattered four hits in six innings, although three of the hits failed to make it out of the infield while Newbury's fourth knock was a grounder back through the box. Brown had six strikeouts in the start before turning it over to fellow first-year Ryne Barry who closed the game in the seventh.

Despite scoring nine runs, MIT managed just five hits in the nightcap. The Cardinal and Gray capitalized on five walks and three passes on a hit-by-pitch in building a commanding advantage. The Engineers led 4-0 after the first two innings without registering a base hit.

Wheeler supplied MIT with its first hit of the contest after leading off the third with a home run over the head of the Newbury left fielder. The Engineers didn't have to wait long to receive their second hit as Phillips matched Wheeler's bomb with a home run over his own to nearly the same spot. The back-to-back jacks sparked a four-run inning which Doyle capped with an RBI single between short and third.

Freshman Nicholas Dunn pitched all six innings for Newbury, yielding eight earned runs in his first decision of the season.